In two days, Gerald manages to contact people he needs to restore the place. He decided to use local talent in showing his support for their business. Old friends he visit after years of absence and happy memories he trace back with them.

Today He decided to see one of his childhood friends, Stephen.


In faded jeans and white t-shirt matching with two pair of Oakley sunglasses, Gerald able to turn every head in John Vincent Anderson Memorial Elementary School campus. Straight to principal office, teacher wonder which child father he is.

Good afternoon Miss, available ba si Principal Stephen Lagdamayo?

Good afternoon, sino po sila?

Just tell Him si Ge, a friend.

After few minutes lumabas na si Stephen.

Pare! What a pleasant surprise! Ang tagal mo nawala, nag laho,  that’s good at naisipan mo na mag bisita. Akala ko totally kinalimutan mo na ang lugar na ito.

Nice to see you too Principal Stephen Lagdamayo. Hanip ikaw na pala ang boss sa school na ito. Imagine, ang number one eskapador at pasaway na estuyante ngayon Principal na.

Yes pare, hanip maningil ang tadhana. Payback time, ngayon naman sumasakit ang ulo ko sa mga estuyante na katulad ko. Hahahhaha

Stephen gives him a really good look for few second then give him a hug….. It is really good to see you Ge. Na miss kita hayop ka, after high school kahit balita, tawag man lang or weekend visit wala. Sa mama at papa mo lang ako naki balita.

Busy lang sobra at alam mo na, young and wild! Hehehhehe

Balita ko nga.

So how’s life being a Principal?

Fulfilling, nakaka tuwa, ngayon naman most of my student anak ng kaibigan, kamag-anak or inaanak ko.

Wow, time flies talaga.

Tell me about it, they become a reminder of our crazy childhood. Everyday I see our self to most of them.

Ano oras pala ang labas mo? Baka naka istorbo ako sayo.

Ulol! Ngayon nandito ka na, hindi ako papayag na hindi ka maka bonding. Kung wala ka naman importante na lakad, okay lang ba mag hang-out ka muna dito. Labasan na in next hour, para naman mahaba haba ang usapan natin.

Pare, I am all yours.

Come, ikot kita sa buong school, for sure maraming ma tutuwa pag makita ka. Ang crush ng bayan is back. Hahahaha

Ikaw talaga. You are now looking at different Gerald pare. Matured and wise, seryoso na sa buhay.

Tunay ba yan? Ready to settle na ba?

Sana, kaya lang single and happy sa ngayon.

Wow! Pare ibang Gerald ka na nga. Hahhahaha ang dating hindi mabakanteng Gerald, ngayon loveless. Hehehhehe tinamaan ka ata ng himala.

Wala lang nakita na pang habang buhay na. After a while nakakasawa na rin, I am in the stage of my life na gusto ko na rin ng serious relationship, but for now easy easy lang muna. If ever na dumating eh di dumating.

Stephen just watching him.

What? Bakit parang shocked ang mukha mo?

I am convinced pare. Ibang Ge ka na nga. So, in your previous relationship, wala bang serious doon?

My last relationship was the longest, lasted 1 ½ years.

Yon ba yong socialite na Bianca Sandoval? What happened?

Wala, after a while nawalan ako ng gana, lumabas ang tunay na ugali niya at ng family. And siguro mababaw lang din ang feelings ko sa kanya. So here I am, almost two years na, practicing celibacy and cleansed from impurities.

Wow pare, shocked talaga ako. Monk na monk ang dating mo. Hahhahaha

Their conversation got interrupted by the bell.

Pare, dismissal na . Hali ka sama ka sa akin, pakilala kita sa teaching staff ko.

Stephen and Gerald standing right at front of Principal Office, watching the students running towards the gate excited to go home, when suddenly a group of rowdy students bump into them.  

Sorry po Sir…Good afternoon po. One of the young men comes to apologized.

You guys, make sure you go home straight. Kapag nadaanan ko kayo sa bilyaran or sa pokeran, ako ang hahatig sa inyo sa mga bahay ninyo.

Yes Sir, mga good boy po kami. Jacob reason out.

Ikaw Jacob, kapag nauna pa ako sa iyo umuwi, tatamaan ka sa Mama mo.

Si Sir talaga, favorite student mo talaga ako.

Favorite favorite ka diyan, halika ka dito, may pakilala ako sayo.

The boy come forward and takes off his baseball cap.

Jacob this is your Tito Gerald, the only son of Don Randy and Donya Vangie.

Hello po Ti……Tito Gerald (as the boy hesitantly uttered the words) kamusta po kayo?

Okay naman Jacob, anong grade mo na?

Grade six po, graduating.

Graduating, ka diyan! Yan kung maka pasa ka.

Si Sir talaga ang lakas mag biro, pasado naman talaga ah.

Oh sya uwi na! Diretso sa bahay ha.

Yes Sir! Then give a salute to the Principal.

Jacob, favorite student ko nga. Alam mo pare, that kid reminds me of you. Kaya pina kilala ko nga sayo. Smart kid but sobrang pilyo. Pati porma parang ikaw, kung hindi lang kita kilala, puede mapag kamalang anak mo. Heheheh magaling pa yan sa basketball.

Kaninong anak ba yon?

Anak ni Kim! Sumasakit nga minsan ang ulo niya dyan. Sobrang hilig kasi sa basketball ng bata, lahat na dare devil sports ang gusto. Kaya nga parang ikaw.

Gerald was shocked! He felt like binuhusan siya ng isang bucket na cold water sa ulo. She is married! All of the sudden he felt weak and for few second he can’t breathe.

Pare, okay ka lang? Mukhang ang putla mo ata.

I’m okay pare, init lang siguro.

Oh siya nga pala, nag kita na ba kayo ni Kim? Alam na ba nya na nandito ka?

Not yet. I don’t think she knows.

Pare si Anne pala, siguro matutuwa yon pag nalaman na nandito ka. You need to come over sa bahay kung hindi, papatayin ka noon. Kapit bahay ko pala si Kim.

Pare, yan nga pala, pina invite kayo ni Mama and Papa sa Saturday sa bahay, lunch. Si Kim naman hayaan mo muna na ma surprise ko sya. Huwag nyo muna sabihin sa kanya. Sa Monday mag start na ako sa Azucarera, balak ko ma surprise sya.

Okay, hindi ko sasabihin. Pati kay Anne huwag na din kasi alam mo naman yon, malakas ang bibig noon. Dalhin ko na lang sya sa Mansion sa Saturday para ma surprise na din.

Okay Pare. All of the sudden Gerald mood changes, Stephen noticed and got the hint why but let it be anyway. He can’t figure out what is going on but he knows that his best friend has some unfinished business to face. So ano? Are you up for a drink? Sa bahay tayo?

Sige pare, let me call Anne sabihin ko na lang pinapatawag ako ng Papa mo.